“Home Base”

“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not turn away from it.” -Proverbs 22:6  

Hi, my name is Maddie Fischer and I work in both the morning and after school care for grades K-8. One interesting thing about me is that I graduated from Immanuel. I am currently a Junior at Lindenwood University and I am striving to obtain a degree in English with a minor in Professional Communications. What do I want to do when I graduate? That question still bounces around my brain, yet I am interested in grant writing for non-profit organizations.  

“Maddie, if your major is English then why are you working the before and after programs?” The answer is simple. While I am wandering through this journey we call ‘life’, Immanuel has always been a sort of ‘home base’ for myself. I reached many milestones within those stone walls. I was baptized and confirmed by Pastor Schade. I learned how to take detailed notes from Mrs. Stotts. I understood what it looked like to be a team player from Coach Meers and Coach Brown. I gained a passion for music from Mr. and Mrs. Loesel. I obtained a strong work ethic from Mrs. Cross. I can recite scripture throughout the years of memory work. I look back at all these treasured moments and realize how much they have shaped myself into the person I am today.  

When I first walked back through the front doors nearly three years ago, I had the intention of talking to Mrs. Meers about helping with girls’ basketball. Instead, I found myself walking down to Mrs. Wagner’s office for a quick interview between her and Mrs. Cross. I remember the moment we prayed before my interview. My hands lightly folded, and my eyes gently closed I thought to myself ‘I want to surround myself with colleagues who share the love of God’. Luckily, I had found that right here at home base. I get the biggest joy out of seeing the kids barrel through the cafeteria doors, immediately asking “what’s for snack?” or “are we going outside today?”. I want to be a memory that these children take with them even after they graduate Immanuel. Even though my role is small, my heart for every child is immensely large.  

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10  

This was my confirmation verse, and it holds true to this very day. I believe that: 1. God had planned for me to come back to Immanuel many years later. 2. I was brought here to make spiritual connections to faculty, staff, students, and parents. 3. I was called to be a light to these children. I need to remind them of their importance and to be patient, because God already has a plan for every one of us.  

 

In Christ,
Maddie Fischer